Pope Francis has condemned Islamist violence describing it as “homicidal madness”.

While speaking before diplomats from 180 countries, Pope Francis urged World leaders to improve the social conditions in their countries as they serve as fertile ground for fundamentalism and radicalisation.

He also restated earlier call for the total ban on nuclear weapons, saying experiments by North Korea to build long-range missiles risked setting off a new nuclear arms race.

The Pope who was delivering the annual papal “state of the world” address, also spoke of the need to defend European unification and for greater unity in facing climate change.

He totally condemned “fundamentalist-inspired terrorism” in 2016 such as attacks by Islamist militants in Europe, Africa, Asia and the United States.

“Sadly, we are conscious that even today, religious experience, rather than fostering openness to others, can be used at times as a pretext for rejection, marginalisation and violence,” he said in the Vatican’s Sala Regia.

“We are dealing with a homicidal madness which misuses God’s name in order to disseminate death, in a play for domination and power.

“Hence I appeal to all religious authorities to join in reaffirming unequivocally that one can never kill in God’s name,” he said.

He attributed religious inspired violence to “profound spiritual poverty” adding that it is linked to social poverty.

“It can only be fully defeated with the joint contribution of religious and political leaders,” he said.

He urged government leaders to enact “suitable social policies aimed at combating poverty” and invest in education and culture.

Francis called for an end to the arms trade, adding that easy access to weapons, “even those of small calibre,” aggravates conflicts and fosters insecurity and fear.